Criminal Justice Degree Online

This taught programme is provided by the School of Law. Follow this link for information about the School, including facilities, funding, and a list of staff research interests.
Purpose
This programme enables you to develop a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the criminal justice process undertaken from multidisciplinary perspectives. Designed for students considering a career in legal practice, in criminal policy development, in statutory and voluntary agencies, or in academic
research and/or teaching.
Programme description
- Taught by world class interntional experts; theorists, academic researchers and leading practitioners.
- Unrivalled location as is close to the Royal Courts of Justice, Westminster, Scotland Yard and the London legal quarter.
- Complete an internship in criminal justice practice, the development of criminal justice policy or the conduct of criminological or criminal justice research as part of the MA.

The MA provides a comprehensive and integrated programme of advanced academic study in the fields of criminology and criminal justice. We aim to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the functions and practices of the criminal justice system and how these relate to political concerns about crime and disorder. We also provide you with the opportunity to focus upon specialised areas of criminal justice law, institutional activity and policy development, both in the UK and internationally.

The modules listed below have been taught in recent years. Please note that not all these modules are offered every year and that their availabililty in any given year or to particular students cannot be guaranteed.

Students take compulsory modules in Criminology & Criminal Justice; Research Methods/Dissertation; Policing & the Police;
Sentencing & Criminal Justice; Drugs, Crime & Criminal Justice; Prison Studies; Youth Justice; Racism, Ethnicity, Crime & Criminal Justice; Gender, Crime & Criminal Justice; Prosecution & Pre-trial process; Terrorism & Counter-terrorism; Transnational & Comparative Criminology & Criminal Justice; State Crime; Internship.
Programme format and assessment
Written examination and essays; compulsory core module; optional modules; compulsory research module leading to a dissertation. Part-time students are taught at the same time as full-time students.
Programme elements/modules
More information on typical programme modules. NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.
English language requirements
More information for students whose first language is not English.
Student destinations
Criminal justice agencies, police services, government departments, eg the Home Office, criminal justice think tanks,
professional legal studies, continuing studies at research/PhD level.
Funding
Home/EU: Arts & Humanities Research Council. Overseas: British Council.
Application procedure
Applications can be submitted from 1 October 2008. Applications should be sent to the MA CCJ Administrator. You must submit original or certified copies of transcripts from your previous degree(s), or of results to date if the degree is yet to be completed, and two confidential academic references. Employment references will only be accepted if you graduated prior to or during 2003. Applications will be considered in order of receipt. We hope to notify you of a decision within four weeks. A waiting list will operate if places on the programme are filled prior to the closing date. Applications will not be processed until all the required documentation has been submitted.
Personal statement and supporting information section
No information required.
Contact for further information
MA CCJ Administrator, tel 020 7848 2923, fax 020 7848 2912.
Related links
- View related taught programmes

This programme provides students with the skills that are the lifelong tools used by researchers. With an emphasis on studying how research is designed and conducted, how research is assessed, and practical skills such as how to manage research projects, it is suitable for a range of students. These may be criminal justice professionals who are already in post and wish to hone their skills, or it may be British or international students who have recently graduated.
Compulsory Modules
Semester 1
Criminological Theory
Research Design 1
Qualitative Methods and Analysis 1
Quantitative Methods and Analysis 1
Semester 2
The Criminal Justice System
Effective Management of Research
Research Design 2
Quantitative Methods and Analysis 2
Dissertation
Assessment

Coursework, plus a dissertation of up to 20,000 words on an agreed topic.
Entry Qualification

A good undergraduate degree, not necessarily in one of the social sciences. Appropriate professional experience will also be considered.
Selection

Applicants for the part-time programme are often invited for interview. For the full-time programme, references are heavily relied upon and candidates are not normally interviewed.
Careers and Further Study

The programme will equip those seeking a research career with a criminal justice agency (or elsewhere), or will provide research training for existing practitioners. The programme is also ideal for those aiming at further research in the form of PhD studies.

A key benefit of the MRes Criminal Justice Research is that it is accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). This means that students who have undertaken the degree are subsequently eligible to apply for many of the ESRC-funded PhD scholarships that are advertised around the country. Students also go on to a range of positions that involve research in some way, including as community safety officers in local government, as policy analysts at the Home Office, as police crime analysts, and analysts working in many other areas

Crime and criminal justice are major issues world-wide. Problems ranging from juvenile crime to fraud, and from drug-trafficking to illegal immigration, have become increasingly complex and difficult to deal with. New crime policies, new sentences, and new roles for existing services are constantly emerging.

The programme provides a comprehensive yet rigorous approach to the study of criminology and criminal justice, and reflects the research interests of teaching staff. The programme is designed for British and international graduates, as well as for professionals working in criminal justice or related areas.
Compulsory Modules
Semester 1
Criminological Theory
Cultural Criminology
Research Design
Quantitative Methods and Analysis
Semester 2
The Criminal Justice System
Crime Prevention
Clinical Criminology
Psychology and Criminal Conduct
Dissertation
Assessment

Coursework, plus a dissertation of up to 20,000 words on an agreed topic.
Entry Qualification

A good undergraduate degree, not necessarily in one of the social sciences. Appropriate professional experience will also be considered.
Selection

Applicants for the part-time programme are often invited for interview. For the full-time programme, references are heavily relied upon and candidates are not normally interviewed.
Careers and Further Study

There are many and varied careers relating to criminology and criminal justice. Many graduates work in the criminal justice system, in the police, probation or prison service.

Students have also gone on to a range of other positions including as community safety officers in local government, as policy analysts at the Home Office or as police crime analysts. Some enter the private sector in areas such as security or crime prevention, or work for agencies such as Crime Concern.

This programme provides students with the skills that are the lifelong tools used by researchers. With an emphasis on studying how research is designed and conducted, how research is assessed, and practical skills such as how to manage research projects, it is suitable for a range of students. These may be criminal justice professionals who are already in post and wish to hone their skills, or it may be British or international students who have recently graduated.
Compulsory Modules
Semester 1
Criminological Theory
Research Design 1
Qualitative Methods and Analysis 1
Quantitative Methods and Analysis 1
Semester 2
The Criminal Justice System
Effective Management of Research
Research Design 2
Quantitative Methods and Analysis 2
Dissertation
Assessment

Coursework, plus a dissertation of up to 20,000 words on an agreed topic.
Entry Qualification

A good undergraduate degree, not necessarily in one of the social sciences. Appropriate professional experience will also be considered.
Selection

Applicants for the part-time programme are often invited for interview. For the full-time programme, references are heavily relied upon and candidates are not normally interviewed.
Careers and Further Study

The programme will equip those seeking a research career with a criminal justice agency (or elsewhere), or will provide research training for existing practitioners. The programme is also ideal for those aiming at further research in the form of PhD studies.

A key benefit of the MRes Criminal Justice Research is that it is accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). This means that students who have undertaken the degree are subsequently eligible to apply for many of the ESRC-funded PhD scholarships that are advertised around the country. Students also go on to a range of positions that involve research in some way, including as community safety officers in local government, as policy analysts at the Home Office, as police crime analysts, and analysts working in many other areas.

Course delivered in close association with Northamptonshire police
Close supervision by serving police officers
Innovative teaching and learning environment
Access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
Course content

The course will provide participants with the initial education to work (during the programme) as a police special officer and eventually reaching the standard of independent patrol. It combines practical ability with critical thinking and decision making underpinned by a robust and challenging academic understanding.

During the two stages of the course, students will study a number of compulsory modules covering quality policing, personal development, ethics and diversity in policing, technology and policing, police powers and operational competence.
Stage one

Primarily based at the University with both police and University staff providing and facilitating students understanding of the role of a police officer, with theoretical studies underpinned by practical application.
Stage two

The second stage comprises further compulsory modules including those continued from stage one, with those students who are appointed to the Special Constabulary taking a module in operational policing in the Professional Development Unit. Those students not eligible for the Special Constabulary will take a module that addresses police performance issues.
Typical modules include
Conflict resolution and defensive tactics
Criminology
Equality and diversity
Health and safety
Law
Offender profiling
Operational policing
Policing practices

Alternative modules are available for those who are not eligible to join the Special Constabulary.
Career opportunities

Graduates of this course will have received training that is based on the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme and meet the national occupational standards for policing. As such, at the point of graduation, they will be assessed as ready for independent patrol and may pursue a career with Northamptonshire Police Force or other criminal justice agencies.

Alternatively the opportunity to gain a full Honours degree in a relevant academic discipline.